Key facts
- What they are
- Specialist financial remedy courts
- Cases handled
- Financial remedy on divorce or dissolution
- Introduced
- Phased rollout from 2019
- Aim
- Greater consistency and efficiency
What are Financial Remedy Hubs?
Financial Remedy Hubs are designated courts that specialise in handling financial remedy cases — the court proceedings used to divide finances on divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership.
The hub model was introduced to improve consistency and efficiency in financial remedy proceedings. Before hubs, cases were spread across hundreds of local courts, with significant variation in how they were managed. Hubs concentrate cases in fewer courts with specialist judges and standardised procedures.
Which courts are Financial Remedy Hubs?
The hub network covers England and Wales. Key hubs include:
- Central Family Court (London) — the busiest financial remedy court in the country
- Manchester Civil and Family Justice Centre
- Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Centre
- Leeds Combined Court Centre
- Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre
- Harlow — a dedicated Financial Remedy Hub for the East of England
- Newcastle Civil and Family Courts
- Cardiff Civil and Family Justice Centre
- Nottingham County Court
- Brighton County and Family Court
Cases from surrounding areas are funnelled into the relevant hub.
What cases go to a hub?
Financial remedy cases arising from divorce and dissolution of civil partnership are routed through the hub network. This includes:
- Applications for financial orders under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
- Schedule 1 Children Act applications (financial provision for children outside marriage)
- Some variation applications
Not all financial remedy cases go to a hub — very straightforward consent order applications, for example, are often processed locally.
How the hub system works
When a financial remedy application (Form A) is filed, the court system directs it to the appropriate hub based on location. The hub then:
- Lists the First Appointment
- Manages the progression of the case
- Lists the FDR and any final hearing
Cases are typically heard by District Judges or Recorders who specialise in financial remedy work.
Remote hearings in hubs
A significant proportion of hub hearings — particularly First Appointments and some FDRs — take place remotely by video or telephone. This reduces the practical burden of having cases heard at a more distant hub court.
Find your local hub
If you’ve filed a financial remedy application or had one filed against you, the paperwork from the court will tell you which hub is handling your case. You can also find your local family courts in our courts directory.The hub process at a glance
- Form A filed — financial remedy application is made
- Directions — Form E exchange timetable is set
- Form E exchanged — both parties file full financial disclosure
- First Appointment (FA) — first hearing; disclosure issues resolved, timetable set
- Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) — settlement hearing; judge gives indication
- Final hearing — if no settlement, judge decides
Involved in financial remedy proceedings?
A family law solicitor experienced in financial remedy can make a significant difference to the outcome. Get advice early.
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